#Radiation in Japan: 2300 Becquerels/kg Cesium from Beef from Fukushima

It's the first detection of radioactive cesium from beef since the Fukushima I Nuke Plant accident.

From Sankei Shinbun (7/8/2011):

東京都は８日、福島県南相馬市産の牛肉から食品衛生法の暫定基準値（１キログラム当たり５００ベクレル）の約５倍に当たる２３００ベクレルの放射性セシウムが検出されたと発表した。牛肉から基準値を超えたセシウムが検出されたのは初めて。

The Tokyo Metropolitan government announced on July 8 that 2,300 becquerels/kg radioactive cesium was detected from the beef from Minami-Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture. The amount detected was nearly 5 times as much as the provisional safety limit (500 becquerels/kg). It was the first time that radioactive cesium was detected that exceeded the provisional safety limit.

　福島県は、南相馬市に対し出荷自粛を要請。また、厚生労働省は、福島県や隣接県に対して牛肉検査態勢の強化を求めた。

Fukushima Prefecture has requested Minami-Soma City to voluntarily refrain from further shipping. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has asked Fukushima Prefecture and the neighboring prefectures to strengthen their inspection of the beef.

　検出されたのは、南相馬市の緊急時避難準備区域内の農家から、都立芝浦と場に搬入された牛１１頭のうちの１頭。

Radioactive cesium was detected from the meat from one of the 11 meat cattle from a farm located in the part of Minami-Soma City designated as emergency evacuation-ready zone. The 11 meat cattle were brought to the Metropolitan Shibaura Slaughterhouse.

　福島県内では食品などについての検査が追いつかないため、厚労省の依頼で都が検査。残りの１０頭についての検査結果は、９日午後にも判明する。

Since Fukushima Prefecture is unable to inspect all food items in Fukushima, the Ministry of Health asked the Tokyo Metropolitan government to do the inspection instead. The result of the analysis of the meat from the remaining 10 cattle will be known in the afternoon on July 9.

　この牛肉については、都の施設内で管理されており、一般に流通する可能性はないという。これまで、ほかの自治体などでも同じような検査はされていることから、放射性物質が検出された牛肉については、市場には流通していないとみられる。

The meat is being kept at a facility owned by the Tokyo Metropolitan government, and there is no chance that this meat will be sold in the market. So far, the similar tests have been conducted by other municipalities, and it is considered that the meat is not currently being sold in the open market.

ただ、都などによると、これらの牛は、体表面が放射性物質に汚染されていないかや育成過程がどうだったかについては、農林水産省の指針に基づいて、出荷段階でチェックされていたという。チェック体制が適切だったかどうか、今後、課題になりそうだ。

However, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan government and others, the cattle passed the inspection based on the guidelines from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries at the time of shipment. The inspection consisted of the radiation measurement on the body surface, and a questionnaire about how the cattle were raised. The guideline may be reviewed in light of the incident [of radioactive cesium detection from the meat].

　ある自治体関係者は「出荷前のチェックでは問題ないということで、モニタリング検査していた。今後、農水省などが事前の検査態勢などを見直す必要があるのではないか」と話した。

One municipal source said, "We were just doing the monitoring survey because we were told there was no problem with the pre-shipment inspection. From now on, the Ministry of Agriculture and other agencies may need to review the inspection methodology."

Whatever the "monitoring survey" was, this anonymous source's words would mean that no beef was checked for radiation before this incident, and presumably the meat has already been sold in the market without radiation inspection.

According to Yomiuri Shinbun on the same subject, this particular farm had shipped 6 cows between May 30 and June 30. The meat from these cows have presumably been long sold in the market. The Ministry of Health is trying to track it down. Yomiuri also says this farm is located in the 20-30 kilometer radius zone which is designated as "emergency evacuation-ready zone". Evacuation on demand.

Poor cows.

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